Improvement in bed-bottom and fire-escape



Patented Sept. 25,1877.

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JCT/67157 5km s..%\m

HER, WASHINGTON D C N PETERS. PMOI'O LITHO UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT O. OOLLIS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BED-BOTTOM AND FlRE-ESCAPE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195.484, dated September 25, 1877; application filed August 16, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT O. OoLLIs, of

. Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Convertible Bed- Bottom and Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to a construction of bed-bottom which .enables its ready conversion' into' a fire-escape ladder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of a bed-bottom embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, and Fig. 3 an edge view, of that member of my bed-bottom which becomes the uppermost when used as a fire-escape. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, showing the upper portion of my device in its form of fire-escape.

A may represent a common bedstead, notched at a to receive and sustain the ends of a rack, B, for the support of my convertible bed-bottom and fire-escape, which I now proceed to describe.

My bed-bottom comprises a congeries of ladder-like elements or members, 0, made sufficiently tapering to permit the 'narrow end of either one of them to be inserted between the sides or spars of any other at its wide end. Each member is provided with four-hooks, D, of spring-steel or other suitable metal, which hooks, in their most complete form, discharge the several functions of elastic supports or feet for the bed-bottom, and, when employed as a fire-escape, as a means of engagement of the component members to constitute a ladder, and also as a fender for holding such ladder clear of the building.

Hinged to the top round of the uppermost member is a double-pointed hook or grapnel, E, for engagement with a window-sill, as in Fig. 4. This grapnel, when the device is restored to its normal condition--that of bedbottom-is folded underneath the attached member, as shown in Fig. 3.

Aferrule, F, surrounding the ends of the spars of members 0 may serve to strengthen the latter when made of wood, and when so made the hooks may be fastened by means of rivets G, traversing both spar and ferrule. The members 0 may, however, be composed partly or wholly of metal, such as springsteel or gas-pipe.

While I prefer to make the hooks of the described or like form, for combining in them the three functions of a bed-spring, a ladderhook, and a fender, this is not essential to my invention, as a useful bed-bottom may be made in which the hooks are adapted only for their essential office of end-to-end engagement to constitute a fire-escape, and I therefore include such modification within the scope of my invention. When so constructed the component members of my bed-bottom may rest upon any customary or suitable springs.

A strap, H, of leather, of webbing, of shirrred goods, or of other suitable material, may hold the component members 0 in place when used as a bed-bottom.

The sills or other portions of the windowopenings may be provided with eyes or staples for engagement of the grapnel-hooks, or, instead of the sharpened points, the grapnel may terminate in eyes, to engage over studs or pins provided in the sill.

I claim as new and of my invention 1. A bed-bottom composed of a congeries of ladder-like members, 0, having hooks D, for end-to-end engagement of said members, and a grapnel, E, for engagement with a window-sill, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with members 0, such hooks, D, constructed of the form represented, and adapted to operate as elastic supports, as hooks, and as fenders, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the members Uwith their appendages D and E, and the rack B, notched bedstead A, and strap H.

. In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

R. 0. COLLIS. Attest:

GEo. H. KNIGHT, WALTER KNIGHT. 

